The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-07-07
THE MEETING: OF THE BLUE AND
THE GRAY.
"A union of hearts and union of hands,
\ union none can sever:
\ union of homes and union of lands,

- union of hearts and q union OF nanQS,
\ union none can sever:
\ union of homes and a union of lands,
And the flag of our [ nion forever.
The first fraternal meeting of the blue
and the gray was held on the historic bat
tie ground of Gettysburg July End and
4th Patriotic speeches were made by eX-
Confederate and ex-Federal soldiers. The
fraternal spirit each speech treathed was
far different from that uttered by Senator
sherman in his recent "bloody shirt
harangue at Springfield. The men who met
each other face to face on the bloody field
have admiration for each other yalor and
fighting qualities. There is no difficulty
in bringing he old soldiers into reunited
country and fraternal relations. 1t IS the
bomb proof towards who did no fighting
who keep up the sectional bitterness for
personal aggrandizement or promotion.
This reunion is another of the victories
of peace beside which the victories of war
fade away. That the fearful battle should
have been fought with the fierce bravery
which characterized it, was the result of
the convictions Of duty and of the thor
oughly aroused passions of the combat
ants those convictions had been form
ing for generations and those passions had
grown with the growth of the country until
they made possible the longest and blood
lest civil war of modern times.
The baptism of blood did not stitie those
convictions or render less strong the pas
sions which grew out of them. But the
/ kindly hand of time, and the increasing in
| tercourse between the people of the North
and South, and the genial influence OF
peace have softened our resentments and
healed our wounds.
The soldiers of America have clasped
hands and reviewed together in brotherly
4 kindness the field which witnessed their
/ victory and their defeat. The Union sol
der, proud of the victory he there gained
and relinquishing no jot of his love for
! that Union which he saved, has 10 word
! Of unkindness for the gallant soldier who
| fought him 50 brayely, but who now yies
! with him in his devotion TO our common
/ country.
! The Forakers and the Fairchilds may
!
scene, but their discordant notes are
| drowned in the great peace hymn which
| rises from the hearts Of the brave men
who fought and won the battles of the
war And the efforts of political generals
and stay home soldiers to keep alive in
time of peace the passions of war are meet
! ing at the hands of the people of the Tn
/ ion a reception which will not encourage
a repetition.
President Cleveland could not be pres
ent at this meeting, which, we trust, marks
a new epoch in our peaceful history, on
account of other engagements But he
wrote a characteristic letter, one sentence
Of which is worthy to be treasured in the
memory and is in keeping with the other
utterances of our patriotic and unsectlonal
President. He wrote:
.While those who fought and who have
so much to forgive lead IN pleasant ways
of peace how wicked appear the traffic IL
sectional hate and the betrayal Of patriotic
| sentiment
| These are the words of Patriot and q
Lover of Country The other speeches and
letters were expressive of the hope that
the war-like feelings of twenty years age
be buried This reunion will do much tC
bury passion and hate and prejudice. We
hope others will be held and that the
peaceful sentiments, given voice at thi:
meeting of old antagonists, will have the
good effect of making those Of the Nortf
and of the South
.'tO live like brothers,